Est. 2006
OBA on Social Media
Blog Layout
Golf cart path to be part of Canal Road widening project
John Mullen • Jun 05, 2020
A new sidewalk from the Undertow to The Wharf also planned
(OBA®) – Orange Beach recently added signs along the sidewalk on Canal Road to alert golf cart drivers to yield to those walking or walking dogs along the roadway.
“All golf carts they really need to remember that pedestrians have the right of way on the sidewalk,” Mayor Tony Kennon said. “We put the signs up. We’re going to have to get tough on them because they have got to allow the pedestrians to have the right of way. You just can’t run people off the sidewalk. That’s just not the right thing to do.”
But relief may be on the way soon. Included in the engineering contract for the widening Canal Road is a golf cart path along most of Canal Road east of Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar.
Orange Beach is also planning another sidewalk on the west side of town connecting Oak Street, or where the Undertow is, to The Wharf. Both projects are under contract for engineering and design work.
“Actually, it’s going to be from Bay La Launch in Bear Point all the way to (State Route) 161,” Kennon said. “There’s a lot of variables in it because we tied it in with widening of Canal Road but you could probably look at $1 million for the golf cart path improvement.”
Canal Road will be widened to three lanes from Doc’s to Wilson Boulevard using mostly money from BP oil spill fines. It will add a much-needed center turn lane as well as a roundabout in the area of the Senior Center and library.
“The widening of Canal Road which is roughly $2 million in Restore Act money,” Kennon said. “Then we’re paying to put in the roundabout and do all of the golf cart path. I think we’re going to end up in the $4 million give or take range for all of it with $2 million of it being Restore Act money. Could be a little bit more or a little bit less.”
The end result will give the city its first designated golf cart path connecting Bear Point where golf carts a prevalent to the center of town at the Canal Road and State Route 161 intersection.
“Once we get this golf cart path what we’ll do is take the sidewalk and widen it to 10 feet,” Kennon said. “By going 10 feet you’ve got room for both.”
The original contract with Thompson Engineering for the entire work on Canal East of Doc’s was approved in April, Finance Director Ford Handley said.
“We approved not to exceed $45,700 with Thompson on April 21 to provide engineering and land surveying services for the addition of a roundabout from (State Route) 161 to Wilson,” Handley said. “The cart path was examined in part of this task order.”
Community Development Director Kit Alexander said work won’t start until after the summer of 2020 and the target date for completion is the fall of 2021.
SIDEWALK TO THE WHARF
At the June 3 council meeting, Thompson Engineering was hired to design and oversee construction of a sidewalk from The Wharf to Oak Street on the north side of Canal Road at a cost of about $128,000.
“We’ve got multiple options we’re working on,” Kennon said. “The continuation of frontage road down to right before you get to Dr. Brown’s office and then the sidewalk from that point all the way to Wharf Parkway East. The other option is not to continue frontage road but just a sidewalk from where it ends there at Captain’s Cove. But either way, there’s going to be connectivity from Oak Street westward to the Wharf Parkway East so that you can get to The Wharf.”
Alexander said the timetable on this project hasn’t been set and there are many issues to resolve before it can move forward.
“A lot of it depends on the availability of right-of-way, amount of utility relocation, and ALDOT permitting,” Alexander said. “We also need to apply for a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant and that award won't happen until late fall of this year.”
Below is a rendering of what the traffic circle on Canal Road will look like.
Share this article w/ Friends...
May at The Wharf in Orange Beach promises to be an exciting time filled with a variety of events catering to seafood enthusiasts, music lovers, and fishing aficionados.
From the annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off to high-profile concerts by country legends Alabama and rising star Cole Swindell, as well as the thrilling Orange Beach Billfish Classic tournament, this coastal community is set to come alive with a diverse array of activities throughout the month.
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon provided a detailed update on the State of the City at the Coastal Alabama Chamber First Friday Forum Breakfast, held at the Orange Beach Event Center, this past Friday. His presentation underscored the city's financial resilience, key infrastructure developments, and plans for enhancing community facilities and public services. Some of the highlights include…
The Foley Police Department and Foley High School are collaborating to introduce a new public safety program aimed at students interested in law enforcement careers. This initiative adds a specialized track to the school's curriculum, helping students explore potential careers in public safety.
The reconstruction of the Gulf State Park Pier reached a milestone recently when the walkway to the octagon on the end was partially completed.
Lamar Pendergrass, the South Region Operations Supervisor for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) State Parks Division, said missing pilings and decking components have been replaced all the way to the octagon, which will allow construction workers much easier access to the entire 1,544-foot pier.
A tragic traffic incident claimed the life of a driver in Gulf Shores early this morning. The accident occurred around 1:24 AM near Tacky Jacks, at the intersection of East Canal Drive and East Second Street. Authorities reported that the vehicle was heading west on East Canal Drive when it breached the guard rail and plunged into the water below. The driver was declared deceased at the scene.
Almost a century after the death of the community’s founder, the vision of John Foley is still guiding the growing city. The city of Foley dedicated a plaque recognizing John Foley set into the renovated fountain in the park named for the community founder.
The support of Alabama coastal residents is needed to raise awareness and educate our visitors to Keep Light’s Out for turtles. The sea turtle nesting season is May through October. Nesting occurs on the beaches from Fort Morgan to Orange Beach and the Florida Panhandle.
Advance Auto Parts, a major provider of automotive aftermarket parts, is collaborating with the Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) to enhance roadway safety. The initiative, named "Advancing Our Roads," was unveiled today at 11am, during the grand opening of the new Advance store located at 3808 Gulf Shores Parkway.
You might listen to her middays on Sunny 105.7 or you may listen to her at one of your favorite restaurants in Gulf Shores. Either way, you have probably heard the sounds of Lisa Christian if you live in Gulf Shores. Her smooth, bluesy sound and offbeat charm has kept her a local favorite for nearly twenty years. She is currently recording her newest album and it’s due for release in summer of 2024.
Starting from July 1, 2024, at 12:01 am local time, recreational fishing for red grouper in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will be prohibited. This closure, extending through the end of the year, is enforced by NOAA Fisheries due to the expected meeting of the annual catch target of 1,840,000 pounds gutted weight by June 30, 2024.
